SES Inks Deals to Deliver In-flight Entertainment for Gogo, Panasonic Avionics, and Row 44

Gogo, a provider of  in-flight connectivity, and global satellite operator SES have signed a ground satellite infrastructure agreement to enable the future delivery and expansion of Gogo broadband services over North America, the North Atlantic Ocean, and Europe.

As part of the long-term, multi-million-dollar deal, SES will provide strategic teleport services and expertise that will allow Gogo to access satellite connectivity and extend the Gogo in-flight broadband network into new markets. The SES teleport in Woodbine, Maryland and the SES-1 and NSS-703 satellites will support two-way Gogo broadband traffic during commercial flights over the United States and the North Atlantic Ocean region.

SES ground facilities in Manassas, Virginia and the SES-4 satellite will provide seamless European and Latin American coverage for passengers who want to stay connected via Gogo internet access during transatlantic air travel. The SES teleport in Betzdorf, Luxembourg will support Gogo’s European coverage beginning next year on the SES-6 spacecraft.

“The Gogo network is expanding with SES to meet the growing demand for seamless internet access among airline passengers who want to stay connected and informed during domestic and international flights,” says Gogo president and CEO Michael Small. “We are counting on a trio of reliable SES teleports and satellites for the essential coverage and reliability we must have to deliver the high quality in-flight entertainment and broadband services that our customers expect.”

“As demand for connectivity in the sky takes off around the world, this important infrastructure agreement helps to ensure that Gogo in-flight broadband services are grounded in reliable, state-of-the-art teleport systems and unsurpassed industry know-how,” says John Matlaga, VP of enterprise and mobility services for SES in North America. “Gogo is a true in-flight entertainment innovator that now has the infrastructure in place to meet the evolving demands of airline passengers on the go in every corner of the globe.”

Panasonic Avionics Expands Trans-Atlantic Inflight Services with SES on SES-6
Panasonic Avionics Corporation, provider of inflight entertainment and communications (IFEC), and global satellite operator SES have signed a major satellite capacity agreement to connect passengers aboard trans-Atlantic flights. As part of the multi-year, multi-transponder deal, Panasonic will use the newly-launched SES-6 satellite and its high-powered Ku-band mobility beams over the Atlantic Ocean to deliver a complete entertainment and communications package to keep air travellers in touch in the sky. The SES capacity will support Panasonic’s Global Communications Service, which provides passengers and crew with two-way broadband applications ranging from high-speed internet access, voice, and live TV, to the ability for the airline to monitor real-time operational data aboard the plane. Panasonic has begun its expanded trans-Atlantic inflight offerings with the initiation of service aboard the SES-6 satellite.

“Panasonic’s global inflight connectivity service is unique, because of our ability, both technically and financially, to scale coverage and capacity anywhere in the world where our customers fly,” says David Bruner,VP of Panasonic Avionics Corporation’s Global Communications Service. “This new agreement between SES and Panasonic Avionics is an important step toward meeting the fast-growing demand for inflight entertainment and communications services over key trans-Atlantic routes and beyond.”

“SES has made unprecedented strategic investments in significantly increasing capacity across our global fleet to meet the escalating demand for mobile entertainment and communications services over key regions and travel routes around the world,” says Matlaga. “With an exciting new partnership with Panasonic Avionics, we have the satellite reach and reliability to put the latest broadband and broadcast technologies at the fingertips of savvy airline passengers.”

Hughes, SES, and Row 44 Announce Trans-Atlantic Broadband Agreement on SES-6
SES and Hughes Network Systems have announced a multi-year, multi-transponder satellite capacity and infrastructure deal to connect airline passengers on trans-Atlantic flights with Row 44’s inflight connectivity and entertainment services. Row 44 is a subsidiary of Global Eagle Entertainment and a provider of satellite-based inflight WiFi and device-based entertainment for airlines around the world.

As part of the agreement, Hughes is providing critical ground transport infrastructure and SES is delivering Ku-band capacity aboard its SES-6 satellite plus teleport support from Betzdorf, Luxembourg to enable seamless and reliable coverage over the North Atlantic.

“Through this agreement, we have significantly expanded our satellite capacity to meet the growing demand from airline passengers for seamless broadband connectivity and entertainment content in the sky,” says John LaValle, CEO for Global Eagle Entertainment. “This agreement ensures that we have the ground and satellite system expertise and technology in place to continue to deliver the world’s most widely deployed satellite-based in-flight WiFi service.”

“Hughes is committed to delivering advanced broadband technology and services as Row 44 continues to launch new inflight solutions designed to serve more and more airline passengers around the world,” says Paul Gaske, EVP and GM, North America, Hughes. “Commercial airliners equipped with Row 44 in-flight WiFi and entertainment solutions are certainly leading the way to meeting passenger demand for connectivity anywhere.”

“Row 44 is a true innovator of inflight communications and entertainment solutions that keep airline passengers connected and tuned in at 30,000 feet,” says Matlaga. “Together with Hughes, SES is committed to the exciting mobility market, enabling the delivery of high-speed broadband, live television and compelling programming lineups, as part of this exciting new frontier.”

“SES is investing in the development and delivery of satellites and satellite beams designed to meet the fast-growing demand for mobility services across the Americas region and around the world,” added Elias Zaccack, SVP of the Americas region for SES. “The SES-Hughes partnership is aimed squarely at putting high-powered connectivity where it’s needed on the go.”